Returning Key PlayersSoren Nelson -2003-04 MIAC All-Conference,
13th in the conference in scoring in league games. He also finished 12th
in the MIAC in rebounding (5.4 rpg), 11th in free throw percentage (79.5%)
and sixth in blocked shots (20). Keith Eckhoff -Led the team in 3-point
FG Pct. (.557) in 2003-04, third on the team in scoring in 2003-04 (11.8).Jason Miller -Second on the team in
field goal percentage (.583) in 2003-04.

Key LossesJoe Bueckers, G 2003-04 All-MIAC Honorable
Mention, second in the nation and led the MIAC in free throw percentage
in 2003-04 (95.2), third in the MIAC assists in 2003-04 (73).Josh Downey, G 2003-04 All-MIAC, led
the team in scoring in 2003-04 (15.1) and 3-point field goals made
(2.5).Nate Ohme, G 2003-04 MIAC All-Defensive
Team, seventh in the MIAC in assist-to-turnover ratio and 11th in steals
in 2003-04.

2004-05
Season Outlook:The saying goes that you
can attract more flies with honey than vinegar. And after last year’s “sweet”
season, where the Cobber men’s basketball team finished third in the regular
season and advanced to the MIAC semifinals, Concordia head coach Duane
Siverson was able to attract a quality group of first-year fliers to go
along with his swarm of top-notch returning players. The 2004-05 roster
features eight freshmen on the team, the most in program history.

The biggest buzz for the
Cobbers in 2004-05 will be made underneath the basket. Concordia returns
2003-04 MIAC All-Conference forward Soren Nelson (Sr., Twin Valley,
Minn.). Nelson led the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg)and was second
in scoring last season (14.3 ppg). He was 13th in the conference in scoring
in league games. He also finished 12th in the MIAC in rebounding, 11th
in free throw percentage (79.5%) and sixth in blocked shots (20). His ability
to score inside and then step outside and hit the open 3-point jumper makes
him a tough player to guard for any opposing team.

However, the center position,
once thought to be a strength of the Cobbers in 2004-05, is now the biggest
question mark as senior Chris Wermerson (Watertown, S.D.) went down
with a knee injury in preseason training and is lost for the season.
Wermerson was second on the team in rebounds (5.0rpg), offensive rebounds
(1.6) and blocked shots (10).

Suddenly pushed into the
fray of giving Concordia an inside presence will be Jason Miller
(Jr., Moorhead, Minn.) and a pair of highly touted freshmen. Last year
Miller came on at the end of the season and helped the Cobbers playoff
run. He led the team in field goal percentage (.583) last year, and has
the ability to post big numbers on any given night.

The two “diaper dandies”
for Concordia’s frontline are E.J. Adams (Grand Forks, N.D.) and
Luke
Linz (Watkins, Minn.). At 6-7, Adams has the raw talent and to make
an impact immediately. Linz is a 6-6 forward/center whose quickness and
athletic ability will help him get quality shots inside.

Along the perimeter, Concordia
will rely on the sharp-shooting of Keith Eckhoff (Jr., Alexandria,
Minn.) to replace the scoring chasm left by graduated 3-point artist Josh
Downey. Downey earned all-conference honors last season and led the
team in scoring (15.1ppg). He finished fourth in the league in 3-point
field goal percentage (51.1%) and fourth in 3-point baskets made (45).

Eckoff has the pedigree to
take over the team’s torch as long-range gunner. He led the team in 3-point
field goal percentage last season by connecting on over 55% of his shots
from behind the arc. He was used as the team’s “sixth” man last year, but
his insertion into the starting lineup, and tireless work ethic, will help
him get more looks at the basket and push his 11.8 scoring average from
2003-04 even higher.

Another key for Siverson’s
swarm this season will be finding a pair of guards that can run the offense,
not turn the ball over in pressure situations and take some of the scoring
onus off of Nelson and Eckoff. The guard tandem will have tough wings to
fill because of the loss to graduation of Joe Bueckers and Nate
Ohme. Bueckers was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention
Team last year. He led the conference in free throw percentage (95.2%)
and was second in the nation in that category. He also captained the offense
by taking care of the basketball, in 2003-04 he finished second in the
MIAC in assist-to-turnover ratio. He was also third in assists (73). Ohme
was named to the league’s All-Defensive Team. He helped Concordia limit
MIAC foes to just 65.1 points per game – fifth best in the conference.
Led by Ohme, the team’s perimeter defense was ranked third in the MIAC
in opposing team’s 3-point field goal percentage (36.0%).

The leading candidates to
step into those positions are sophomore David Whartnaby (Fargo,
N.D.) and freshmen Anthony Boike (Bloomington, Minn.) and Eric
Meichsner (Morris, Minn.). Whartnaby spent 2003-04 studying overseas
last season and did not play for the Cobbers. His year of maturity and
familiarity with the Concordia system will aid him in helping control the
tempo of play and running the Cobber offense. Boike and Meichsner have
each shown signs of being ready to handle the tough perimeter defenses
in the MIAC. Both players come to Concordia with an outstanding background
in running high level offenses.

If Siverson and his swarm
can survive the rocky start of the season by potentially having three freshman
starting players, then the team has a chance to once again be buzzing around
the top of the league in March.